Exiled Shrimper
Manager
I think it’s quite hard to read too much into the game, such was the manner in which it turned on Menayese’s red card early in the second half. Waldron did brilliantly to get in behind him, and the Aldershot defender prevented an obvious goalscoring opportunity given no-one else was going to get across to avert the shot.
In the first half, I know it will appear that we were ponderous in possession, but I thought that was down to the intensity with which Aldershot pressed us. Their front three were as good as any we’ve come across this season, and players who are usually comfortable on the ball like Kensdale, Miley and Husin coughed it up to their opponents.
The goal came when Morton gave the ball away in midfield, Tolaj’s shot was blocked and Stokes turned in the rebound. Stokes should probably had a second when Tolaj’s effort bounced back to him off the crossbar and he sliced wide.
And I don’t think we should downplay the role Collin played in this win. He made two crucial saves, one when Miley was robbed of the ball and he pushed Tolaj’s low shot away from goal and then when he tipped Daly’s shot over. If we’d been 3-0 down at half-time, I don’t think even the red card would’ve enabled us to get back on top.
We did have some good moments in the opening period and Waldron managed to get a couple of headers in that tested the Aldershot goalkeeper, one a glancing effort from Morton’s delivery and another from Demetriou’s right-wing cross. Together with his pace and finishing, he’s looking to be a decent package as a forward. I’d suggest he was our man of the match today. Noor also drew a good save from the goalkeeper, albeit he pulled out a dive for the cameras.
Aldershot started the second period well and they claimed for a penalty for handball quite vociferously before a potential foul on the edge of the penalty area went unpunished. Like Tuesday, the luck was with us because, when play switched to the other end, the referee made a big decision and, after the red card, Bridge’s fairly innocuous free-kick was spilled and Cardwell turned in the rebound. Aside from the obvious morale-boost for Cardwell, it was great to see three or four Blues players following up before opposition players, even accounting for the slight numerical advantage.
So often you see sides frustrate their opponents once they go down to ten men, but that instant goal didn’t allow Aldershot time to adjust. That Kensdale quickly added a second from close-range (consecutive games with a defender hitting the target another positive) provided another decisive moment.
Wood for Morton was a positive substitution - albeit Morton was probably unfortunate he was the player to make way - and we created more opportunities. Kensdale could’ve had another but hit the woodwork, Ralph had a powerful header turned away and Waldron was denied by the goalkeeper after running in behind again. And Waldron should've been awarded a penalty for a blatant shove.
More positives in stoppage time as Wood scored a superb solo goal, dribbling past three defenders before coolly slotting home, and then he played an intelligent pass for Dackers to smash in via the underside of the crossbar. I think the frame of the goal is still shaking.
It’s hard to know if we’d’ve worked out a way past Aldershot without the dismissal because we were certainly struggling. I’m not convinced they could’ve kept up that intensity and maintained the high press, but they might’ve extended their advantage before we could get back on terms, or they could’ve frustrated us. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about it and there should be plenty of confidence in the camp moving onto Tuesday now.
In the first half, I know it will appear that we were ponderous in possession, but I thought that was down to the intensity with which Aldershot pressed us. Their front three were as good as any we’ve come across this season, and players who are usually comfortable on the ball like Kensdale, Miley and Husin coughed it up to their opponents.
The goal came when Morton gave the ball away in midfield, Tolaj’s shot was blocked and Stokes turned in the rebound. Stokes should probably had a second when Tolaj’s effort bounced back to him off the crossbar and he sliced wide.
And I don’t think we should downplay the role Collin played in this win. He made two crucial saves, one when Miley was robbed of the ball and he pushed Tolaj’s low shot away from goal and then when he tipped Daly’s shot over. If we’d been 3-0 down at half-time, I don’t think even the red card would’ve enabled us to get back on top.
We did have some good moments in the opening period and Waldron managed to get a couple of headers in that tested the Aldershot goalkeeper, one a glancing effort from Morton’s delivery and another from Demetriou’s right-wing cross. Together with his pace and finishing, he’s looking to be a decent package as a forward. I’d suggest he was our man of the match today. Noor also drew a good save from the goalkeeper, albeit he pulled out a dive for the cameras.
Aldershot started the second period well and they claimed for a penalty for handball quite vociferously before a potential foul on the edge of the penalty area went unpunished. Like Tuesday, the luck was with us because, when play switched to the other end, the referee made a big decision and, after the red card, Bridge’s fairly innocuous free-kick was spilled and Cardwell turned in the rebound. Aside from the obvious morale-boost for Cardwell, it was great to see three or four Blues players following up before opposition players, even accounting for the slight numerical advantage.
So often you see sides frustrate their opponents once they go down to ten men, but that instant goal didn’t allow Aldershot time to adjust. That Kensdale quickly added a second from close-range (consecutive games with a defender hitting the target another positive) provided another decisive moment.
Wood for Morton was a positive substitution - albeit Morton was probably unfortunate he was the player to make way - and we created more opportunities. Kensdale could’ve had another but hit the woodwork, Ralph had a powerful header turned away and Waldron was denied by the goalkeeper after running in behind again. And Waldron should've been awarded a penalty for a blatant shove.
More positives in stoppage time as Wood scored a superb solo goal, dribbling past three defenders before coolly slotting home, and then he played an intelligent pass for Dackers to smash in via the underside of the crossbar. I think the frame of the goal is still shaking.
It’s hard to know if we’d’ve worked out a way past Aldershot without the dismissal because we were certainly struggling. I’m not convinced they could’ve kept up that intensity and maintained the high press, but they might’ve extended their advantage before we could get back on terms, or they could’ve frustrated us. Thankfully we don’t have to worry about it and there should be plenty of confidence in the camp moving onto Tuesday now.
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; thought he was very poor and could have cost us a second. Said pre-match I would have left him out and think he should be dropped on Tuesday. We all want the old Miley back, so maybe a couple of sub appearances will do him good.
